Game 12: Northeastern State (6-5, 2-2 MIAA) vs. Lindenwood (9-4, 1-3 MIAA) at 5:30 p.m. | January 4, 2018
Tahlequah, Okla. | NSU Event Center
The Series
Northeastern State has won two in a row against Lindenwood and holds a 6-2 series lead over the Lions. Home has been very friendly for the RiverHawks with NSU winning in all four of the contests in Tahlequah over Lindenwood.
The Coaches
Fala Bullock is in her first season as head coach and was named to lead her alma mater on April 1, 2017 to replace Randy Gipson who retired after 18 years. With six years of head coaching experience, Bullock is 104-79 overall and within conference play she is 63-55. She has spent the last four seasons (2013-17) as head coach at NCAA Division II Armstrong State University, where she recorded a career mark of 60-52. In her first season at Armstrong State, she led the Pirates to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history, and reached the Sweet 16.
Bullock played for Gipson for two seasons, and was a graduate assistant under Gipson from 2004 to 2006. As student-athlete, Bullock played in 57 games and NSU went 36-19, winning the 2003 Lone Star Conference Tournament, and made the program's first NCAA Tournament berth. As a member of Gipson's coaching staff, NSU reached the Sweet 16 in 2004, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and 2006.
Tony Francis (98-113) is entering his eighth season at the helm of the Lindenwood Lion's basketball program. Francis oversaw the program's transition into the NCAA and is Lindenwood's only coach in the NCAA era. Before accepting the head coaching position at Lindenwood, Francis spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I, St. Louis.
Last Time Out for NSU
Northeastern State looked to close out 2017 on a winning note, but the Oklahoma Baptist came into the NSU Event Center and left with 70-60 victory here Saturday afternoon.
Cenia Hayes and
Joi Bertrand led the RiverHawks scoring attack, both finishing in double figures with 18 and 14 points respectively. The lead would change hands eight times in the final stanza before OBU's McKenzie Cooper nailed a three pointer to put the Lady Bison up 64-60 with 28 seconds left.
Last Time Out for LWU
Lindenwood sophomore forward Gabby Walker was one of three Lions with double-digit scoring as Lindenwood fell to Missouri-St. Louis 74-69 on New Year's Eve. Walker led the Lions with 17 points. Charisse Williams (15 points) and Kallie Bildner (10 points) also scored in double figures for Lindenwood. Missouri-St. Louis held the Lions to below 70 points for the second time this season.
Finding Joi
NSU junior
Joi Bertrand has been one of the RiverHawks' most consistent players in the last three contests hitting double-digits. During the span of the last three games, Bertrand has averaged just under 13-points a game and had her first career double-double the last time she stepped on the floor on Dec. 30 against Oklahoma Baptist. Bertrand is tied for fourth in blocks per game with 1.6 and against OBU she had four.
A NSU win would…
- Stay perfect at home against Lindenwood in five contests.
- Surpass their 2016-17 win total.
- Be consecutive MIAA wins.
A LWU win would…
- Be their first win in Tahlequah.
- Snap a three game road losing streak.
- Second straight MIAA win overall.
Coming Up
The RiverHawks will remain at home to host Lincoln on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
